Roof and upper floor construction



April 11, 1967 J. D. HUNTLEY ROOF AND UPPER FLOOR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1964 FIG.3

INVENTOR. JOSIAH D. HUNTLEY @111 w. &1.

ATTOR N EY April 11, 1967 J. D. HUNTLEY 3,313,974

ROOF AND UPPER FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 22, 1964 2 Sheets-She et 2 INVENTOR. JOSIAH D. HUNTLEY ATTOR N EY United States Patent ()fiice 3,313,074 Patented Apr. 11, 1967 3,313,074 ROOF AND UPPER FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Josiah D. Huntley, Rio Picdras, Puerto Rico, assignor of thirty percent to David M. Wilson, Harlington, Tex. Filed July 22, 1964, Ser. No. 384,350 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-414) This invention relates in general to building construction, and, more particularly, to a roof and upper floor construction therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a roof and upper floor structure the construction of which obviates the utilization of conventional forms, thereby conducing to marked economies in material and labor as compared to costs incurred in present day roof and upper floor construction; as well as eliminating the fire hazard inherent in the use of the customary wooden forms.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a roof and upper floor construction which is of monolithic character, unitarily comprising steel structural members and concrete whereby a substantial saving of material is elfected without diminution in load-bearing properties.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a roof and upper floor construction embodying steel structural members adapted for serving the dual purpose of supporting the dead load of the embedding concrete and at the same time providing reinforcement therefor.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a roof and upper floor structure which may be constructed relatively rapidly with minimum labor; there being a simplicity of components which may be readily interrelated and integrated by relatively unskilled personnel.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a roof and upper floor construction which is adapted for relatively substantial free spanning; which is constructed of strong, fire-resistant, light weight material; which is reliable and durable in use; and which through its inexpensiveness in components and in construction materially reduces overall building costs.

Other objects and details of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings (two sheets) wherein:

FIGURE 1 .is an isometric view partially broken away, showing the components, before placing of concrete, of a roof and upper floor construction, constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view, in section, of the construction of the present invention, showing same in final form after placing of concrete.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical schematic sectional view of the roof and upper floor construction in supported position.

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view of the finished roof and upper floor construction.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view illustrating another form of roof and upper roof construction, constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A generally designates a roof and upper floor construction which, in its simplified form, comprises a horizontally presented expanded metal lath 1 which integrally incorporate spaced-apart, parallel, transversely extending reinforcing ribs 2, which may be of downwardly opening, V-shape cross section. Mounted upon the upper face of said lath are longitudinally extending studs 3 having upper and lower flanges 4, 4', respectively, and an intervening web 5 having a multiplicity of V-shaped openings 6 for weight reduction. The spacing between adjacent studs 3 depends upon the nature of the resultant structure and the load requirements thereof so that the greater the load to be supported, the closer studs will be relatively positioned. Studs 3 are secured to lath 1 to prevent accidental displacement, as by any suitable means, such as, tie wires 7. Provided for extension transversely of lath .1, in axially normal relationship to studs 3, is a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart channel members 8, dimensioned for projection through openings 6 of stud webs 5, as may best be seen in FIGURE 1, with preferably one flange of said channels 8 resting upon lower flange 4 of the assocaited studs 3. Said channel members 8 may be attached or secured to studs 3 by conventional expedients to inhibit any untoward relative shifting. Thus, studs 3 and channel members 8 are integrated into a reinforcing framework as well as a load-bearing support with channel members 8 providing lateral stability for studs 3.

In construction, roof and upper floor construction A will normally be supported by opposed walls indicated 9 and by at least one intermediate beam or wall as at 10. Additionally, if relatively extensive spans are to be developed, temporary shoring, such as shown in phantom lines at 11, may be used, and may be of selected character including slip joint posts, screw jacktype posts, etc. Each of the support walls 9, as well as beam 10, is integrally provided with a dowel 12 projecting upwardly beyond its upper end for extension through lath 1 for embedment within the roof or upper floor to be formed whereby positive anchoring of roof A to walls 9 and beam 10 is effected.

As indicated hereinabove, studs 3 are first placed supportedly upon said walls 9 and beam 10, spanning the intervening distances. Lath 1 is then disposed upon the lower side of studs 3, with the lengths thereof selected for extension from wall to wall or from wall to beam, and then is secured to studs 3 spacedly throughout their extent, as by tie wires 7. Channel members 8 are next fixed in position, axially perpendicular to, and extending through, studs 3. Concrete is then poured directly upon lath 1 for complete encasement of studs 3 and channel members 8 for development of roof A; the thickness of the placed concrete being of such order that the concrete extends above the upper surface of studs 3 for conformity to the particular building specifications. The concrete utilized in the construction of roof A is preferably of light weight, insulating character and is placed, at a low slump, either by machine pumping or by bucket.

Vermiculite or perlite may be used in the concrete in accordance with well known practices for providing the desired lightness and requisite strength. (The abovementioned materials serve as examples only.) In order to finish the under portion of roof A, concrete is pressure sprayed, trowelled, or otherwise applied directly against the downwardly directed face of lath 1 to an extent necessary for appropriate steel coverage. After completion of placement of concrete, roof A is then cured and then permitted to set, after which temporary shoring 11 is removed.

It will thus be seen that roof A is fully formed and developed without resort to use of conventional forms which have been considered requisite for concrete placement so that the costliness of lumber or other material for forms, the expense of labor for placing the forms in assembled relationship and for dismantling, and the loss of time involved in the use of forms will be obviated by the present invention.

Roof A is capable of providing a sturdy, reliable span supporting designed, anticipated loads during usage, whether as a roof or as an upper floor. The construction of the present invention provides a monolithic slab fully reinforced throughout its extent and thus unitarily comprising concrete and'completely embedded steel structural members, which components currently are generally independently and successively constructed. It is apparent from the foregoing that the actual construction of roof or upper floor A is easily and simply effected with substantial economies being made over practices heretofore employed.

If the particular span of roof A is relatively short, the included studs 3 and channel members 8, as above described, will assure adequate tensile reinforcement. However, in the event the load requirements, or the proposed extent of span, of'roof A should necessitate increased reinforcement, elongated steel rods 13 may be mounted upon lath 1 in axially parallel relationship to studs 3 and spaced therefrom at preselected intervals; said rods thus underlying channel members 8. Rods 13 are secured to lath 1, as by tie wires 15, for maintenance and selected position. The number of rods to be used will conform to requirements for accommodation of the design load. Thus, rods 13 serve to: augment the tensile reinforcement of roof or upper floor A. Also, for such relatively increased load or span requirements, there is provided what is more commonly known as negative or top steel, being a reinforcing member disposed above studs 3 over the supporting beams 10 (see FIGURE 3) when the slab is continuous thereover in order to provide necessary tensile reinforcement.

Such top steel may be of any suitable character as wiremesh, reinforcing rods, lath, etc., andbeing shown asmesh 16 for illustration purposes only. With constructions of this reinforced character, the concrete is placed in' the same manner as hereinabove described for full embedment of all structural components to .a predetermined thickness and presenting the monolithic slab as shown in' FIGURE 2.

It will thus be appreciated that. the load and/or span requirementswill' be determinative of the" number and types of reinforcing components utilized so that FIG- URES l, 2; 3, and 4 are of what might be considered a composite character in that the same inferentially illustrate the simplified form as well as the reinforced form.

FIGURES 5 and 6' illustrate a roof and upperifloor construction A which incorporates lath 1', channel members8' and'reinforcing rods 13 which are, in allrespects,

similar to lath 1, channel members 8; and reinforcing rods" 13 hereinabove described" in connection with roof and upper floor A. However, roof and'upper floor A incorporates elongated studs 17 which incorporate upper" and lower portions18, 18' which are relatively thickened andof V-shape cross section, there" being an intervening web 19having a series of apertures 20 through which channel members 8 extend (FIGURE 6). Said studs' 17 are of the nailable type being thus'adapted forsecurementto lath 1' by'means'of nails 21 extending upwardly into thelower portions-18 of stud 17 at spaced apart points throughout theirextent. Thus, nailable studs 17 are equally'useful with the present'invention.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the roof and upper floor construction may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described without departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

I claim:

1. A roof and upper floor construction adapted for spanning the distance between adjacent wall members comprising an expanded metal lath having integrally formed, spaced apart, parallel, transversely extending ribs, said ribs being downwardly opening and of inverter V- shaped cross-section, a plurality of integrally formed reinforcing studs disposed on the ribs of said lath and extending longitudinally thereof, said studs being secured to said lath, said studs having spaced apart openings, a plurality oftransverse reinforcing members spaced apart longitudinally of said lath and presented in axial normal relationship to said studs, said transverse reinforcing members extending through the openings in said studs for providing lateral stability for said studs, said transverse members being secured to said studs, reinforcing rods secured upon said lath in axial parallel relationship to said studs, said reinforcing rods being in underlying relationship to said transverse reinforcing members, and concrete embedding said lath, said studs and said transverse reinforcing members to provide a monolithic slab.

2. A roof and upper floor construction as defined in claim 1- and further characterized" by said lath being of rigid character, and said studs being supported upon said lath.

3; A roof and upper floors construction adapted for spanning the distance between adjacent wall members comprising a rib bath, a plurality of reinforcing studs disposed on said lath and extending longitudinally thereof, said studs having spaced apart openings, a plurality of transverse reinforcing members spaced apart longitudinally of said lath andpresented in axial normal relationship to said studs, said transverse reinforcing members extending through the openings in said studs for providing lateral stability for said studs, reinforcing rods secured upon said lath in axial parallel relationship to said studs, said reinforcing rods being in underlying relationship to said transverse reinforcing members, and concrete embedding said lath, said studs and said transverse reinforcing members to provide a monolithic slab.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 553,305 l/1896 Fordyce 52-650 X 1,359,675 11/1920 Davidson 52-650 X 1,986,172 1/1935 Wilson 52-650 X 2,284,898 6/ 1942 Hartman 52-650 FOREIGN PATENTS 814,654 9/ 1951 Germany.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Examiner.

O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner, 

3. A ROOF AND UPPER FLOORS CONSTRUCTION ADAPTED FOR SPANNING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ADJACENT WALL MEMBERS COMPRISING A RIB BATH, A PLURALITY OF REINFORCING STUDS DISPOSED ON SAID LATH AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAID STUDS HAVING SPACED APART OPENINGS, A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE REINFORCING MEMBERS SPACED APART LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID LATH AND PRESENTED IN AXIAL NORMAL RELATIONSHIP TO SAID STUDS, SAID TRANSVERSE REINFORCING MEMBERS EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENINGS IN SAID STUDS FOR PROVIDING LATERAL STABILITY FOR SAID STUDS, REINFORCING RODS SECURED UPON SAID LATH IN AXIAL PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO SAID STUDS, SAID REINFORCING RODS BEING IN UNDERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID TRANSVERSE REINFORCING MEMBERS, AND CONCRETE EMBEDDING SAID LATH, SAID STUDS AND SAID TRANSVERSE REINFORCING MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A MONOLITHIC SLAB. 